Fedusa calls for use of state of emergency regulations

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Trade union federation Fedusa has called on president Zuma to consider using the State of Emergency regulations to restore peace, order and stability in certain districts of the mining sector.

Fedusa secretary-general, Dennis George, says the killings, violence, intimidation and anarchy on the mines, particularly the country's platinum mines, are jeopardising the country's democracy and sound labour relations.

He says president Zuma should show true statesmanship and leadership during this time of a deepening mining crisis and invoke the provisions of State of Emergency Act of 1997.

"We cant allow this anarchy to continue because it is not just about the killings and the violence it is also about the other impacts it has on the country and it also deals with our reputations and our credibility and no country can allow something like this to continue indefinitely" George said.

Zuma told MPs in Parliament yesterday, in an apparent reference to expelled ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema, that action would be taken against those suspected of inciting violence.

Zuma said it was not just the striking miners who were engaged in such "unacceptable" activity.

He said 'some people' were instigating miners to operate in a particular way which would not be accepted.

He said government was looking into the matter and would be acting very soon.